Braintree rolls to final
Jones, Moore key win over Central Catholic
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Braintree has had a knack of getting contributions from all its players on both ends of the court. That trend continued last night in the Wamps’ Div.1 state semifinal matchup against Central Catholic at Garden.
Jeniyah Jones scored 14 points and Mackenzie Moore added 13 as the Wamps wore down the Raiders, 65-41, to earn a trip to the state final Saturday.
Adriana Timberlake, who scored 25 points in the Wamps’ South final win over Newton South, knocked down three 3-pointers and 11 secondhalf points to shut the door on the Raiders’ season.
“It’s never easy hitting shots at the Garden,” said Braintree head coach Kristen McDonnell. “Our athletic director came in at halftime to tell them to attack the basket. We just try to get to the basket and when we weren’t doing that I thought we were at a disadvantage, giving them a chance. Our team defense speaks for itself at this point. The kids just dig and they grind. They do it the tough way.”
Braintree (22-3) pulled away from the Raiders (213) behind a suffocating 20-8 final eight minutes. Timberlake’s 3-pointer with 3:50 left put the Wamps up 54-37 and that lead grew to 60-37 two minutes later on a jump shot by Moore.
Central Catholic’s Kathryn Kirsch led all scorers with 18 points, including 10 in the first quarter. Teammate Kaylee Thomas added 12 points.
Braintree’s speed caught the Raiders on their heels early as it pushed the floor and put together a 10-2 run behind three inside baskets from Jones to go up 15-6. Kirsch made good on a pair of shots inside the paint to cut the deficit to five before Rachel Tutkus (six points, eight rebounds) scored on a strong move to the hoop to put Braintree up 17-10 to close out the quarter.
The Raiders weren’t able to put a dent in the Braintree lead by halftime, but did cut it to five twice. Kaylee Thomas was fouled on a 3-point shot and made the free throw to make it 19-14 and after a Jenna Roche (6 points, five steals) jumper and free throws from Barbara Ronca and Roche, Maura Smith (seven points) drained a three-pointer to cut it to 25-20 before Jones hit a pair of free throws to give the Wamps a 27-20 lead going into the break.
Roche, who, along with Moore, was on Braintree’s last championship team as a freshman, is confident heading into the final.
“As a freshman I was more of a benchwarmer,” said Roche. “This year I really had to step up controlling the ball and getting it to my teammates. Obviously, Kenzie and Jeniyah came up big for us. We really have to step up in the next game.”
Division 4
Coyle & Cassidy 55, Fenway 47 — It has been a long time coming for the Coyle & Cassidy girls basketball program. And thanks to Rachael Johnson and Kaylee Haynes, a magical run continues.
The pair of juniors had 12 points each to lead the Warriors to their first state final since 1987 with a victory over Fenway at the Garden.
“I’m so excited,” Haynes said. “I’ve never been to states! And my whole team is so excited.”
Colby Upchurch led Fenway, pouring in 12 points, while Dasiah Thornton and Me’Ara Carter added 10 each. The Warriors (22-3) took a 26-17 advantage into the half, before pulling away late.
Fenway (21-3) scored eight unanswered points to cut Coyle & Cassidy’s lead to 44-38 with 3:30 left in regulation.
But the Warriors ripped off a 10-0 run in the game’s final minutes to put the contest out of reach. Haynes would deliver the finishing blow, hitting a layup in transition to put her team up by 11 with 2:39 remaining.
“I assumed, and I was right,” Warriors coach Michael O’Brien said. “That they were going to go on that big run at the end. But again, we persevered. I think we had two big shots down the stretch, and that’s the key.”